Thermostatic valve



Nov. 16,1926. 1,607,281

G. W. KITE, JR

THERMOSTATIC VALVE Filed March 22, 1926 Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES GEORGE W. KITE, J'B., OF HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA.

' THERMOSTATIC VALVE.

Application filed March 22, 1926. Serial No. 96.536.

This invention relates to improvements in thermostatic valves adapted to be used in connection with boilers, water heaters and the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a thermostatic valve of improved construction which is designed to overcome certain disadvantages found to exist in thermostatic valves of the prior construction and whlch will insure that the valve will operate and will not bind.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved thermostatic valve, 1n which the parts and particularly the casing .1 are so constructed that the valve may be easily and quickly adjusted Without throwing the valve out of adjustment when the parts are assembled after adjustment.

With the foregoing and other objects in 2 view which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the improved thermostatic valve,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken upon the line 2-2of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

' Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the mechanism constituting a feature of the invention, which causes the ball forming the valve closure to snap or jump from fully closed to fully open position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the improved valve consists of a casing or housing laving a top wall 10, a bottom wall 11, a back wall 12, end walls 13 and 14, and a removable front wall 15. The front wall 15 is detachably secured to the casing by means of screws 16 which are screwed into lugs 17 formed on the top, bottom and end walls. Adjacent the end wall 13 there is formed on the casing an upstanding tubular part 18, into the upper end of which. is threaded a tube 19. The tube 19 has its upper end closed and is preferably formed of copper or such material which is a ood conductor of heat and which will expand materially when heated. A rod 20, preferably formed of 5 steel or other material, has its upper end bearing against the top of the copper tube 19. It extends downwardly within the tubular part 18 and has its lower end pointed, as indicated at 21, and bearing in a socket formed on one end of a lever 22. On the under side of the lever 22 between the point of the rod 20 and the end wall 13 there is formed a fulcrum 23 resting on an adjusting screw or plug 24, which is threaded into the bottom 11. of the casing. This adjusting screw or plug is held in adjusted position by means of a lock nut 25.

The inlet to the casing for supplying gas or other fuel thereto is indicated at 26, and

the outlet from the casing is provided by a F pipe 27 having a portion 28 extending into the casing and forming a seat for a ball valve 29. The end of the lever 22 adjacent the end wall 14 is horizontally bifurcated, as

indicated at 30. and has an. aperture formed F vertically through it, through which the ball 29 isjust capable of passing. In the slot 30 there are slidably positioned twoplates 31 and 32, which have opposed V shaped notches 33 formed in their adjacent edges and which are preferably sharpened to knife edges. The ends of these plates are somewhat thickened, as indicated at 34,- and are drilled out to receive coil springs 35. The ends of the coil springs .35 are soldered or otherwise secured to the ends of the thickened portions 34 upon the respective plates so that the coil springs urge the two plates 31 and 32 toward each other. The notches 33 are so formed that when the plates 31 and 32 are most adjacent each other, the ball 29 cannot pass between them, but the ball 29 can be forced between the two plates, causing them to slide apart within the slot 30, and after the ball has passed between the plates, they will again be drawn toward each other. The upward movement of the ball 29 is limited by an adjusting screw 36 held in place by a lock nut 37 on the top 10 of the casing. The vertical movement of the lever 22 is guided by means of a pin or bolt 38 which is tapped into the bottomof the casing and extends upwardly and engages the top. A coil spring 39 is disposed about the pin or bolt 38 and is compressed between the lever 22 and the bottom 11 of the casing. The pipe 27 leads to a jet 40 conveying the fuel from the casing to the air mixer of a burner. This pipe can be completely closed by means of a mud operated valve 41. In the top of the casing there is preferably drilled and tapped a hole 42 for the reception of a pilot light used in connection with the burner, although this hole is optional.

The operation of the improved thermostatic valve is as follows: In the position of the valve shown in the drawing, the tube 19 is relatively cool, and gas or fuel is passing through the casing beneath the ball 29 and through the outlet 27, supplying the burner and heating the water or other substance to be heated. When this water or other substance is heated beyond the desired degree, the copper tube 19 expands and the rod 20 is lifted slightly by means of the coil spring 39 hearing against the under side of the lever 22, keeping the upper end of the'rod in engagement with the top of the tube 19. Such upward movement of the lever, however, causes the ball 29 to be forced down wardly betwen the plates 31 and 32, and as soon as the diameter, of the ball 29 passes beneath the knife edges on the plates 31 and 32 the coil springs 35 urge the plates toward each other and thus serve to snap the ball 29 against the 'seat 28, shutting off the supply fuel to the burners, and allowing the water or other substance to cool. When the water has cooled below thepredetermined degree, the copper tube 19 contracts and causes the rod to press the lever 22 downwardly against the action of the coil spring 39. Such downward movement of the lever 22 causes the knife edges on the plates 31 and 32 to slide downwardly upon the ball 29, and as soon as they are below the horizontal diameter of the ball, they will be drawn toward each other, snapping the ball 29 upwardly against the bottom of the adjusting screw 36.

In this manner the thermostatic valve will serve to keep the water or substance heated at a practically constant temperature. This temperature can be varied by adjusting the adjusting screw or plu 24. The adjusting screw 36 serves to ta up any loose play between the lever 22 and the rod 20, and also varies the quantity of gas or fuel which may pass through the casing when the valve is in its open position. The improved thermostatic valve has several advantages over prior constructions. Heretofore it has been common practice to use instead of the plates 31 and 32 a circular coil sprin which is disposed within the slot 30. uch springs which serve the same purpose as the plates 31 and 32 are disadvantageous for the reason that they tend. to bind upon the ball 29, and frequently the ball gets stuck. Furthermore, when the throw or jump of the ball 29 is aconsiderable distance, the coil spring tends to contract too much, so that the ball cannot jump or snap from one position to the other. By the improved construction the knife edges decrease the frictional engagement with the ball so that it may be easily snapped from one position to the other, and by the arrangement of the plates it will be noted that the plates cannot be contracted beyond a predetermined degree, thus insuring that the ball will never become bound or stuck.

Another advantage of the improved construction resides in having a removable frontwall 15. By means of this construction the front wall can be removed and the valve adjusted. Furthermore, the valve may be operated several times by the person adjusting it to see that it operates properly. After the valve has been properly adjusted, the front wall 15 can be again appliedand such application will in no way throw the valve out of adjustment. In prior constructions, however, the casing has been so constructed that this trial operation of the valve is'prac'tically impossible, and furthermore the re-assembly of the casing after the valve has been adjusted will throw the valve out of adjustment. 7

It will also be noted that if for any reason the rod 20 should become damaged or warped, this rod can be replaced without requiring the disassembly of the complete valve or its removal from the heater or boiler with which it is associated. This can be accomplished by removing the plug or adjusting screw 24 and swinging the lever 22 laterally. The rod 20 can then be withdrawn from within the copper tube 19 and the casing by allowing it to fall through the hole in the bottom 11 occupied by the plug 24:. This permits the replacement or repair. of the rod 20, and if the copper tube 19 is extending into the boiler or water heater, it is not necessary to remove the valve and drain out the water from the boiler or water heater.

From the above described construction it will be appreciated that a novel thermostatic valve has been provided having several advantages over those heretofore employed.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the detail of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1.*In a thermostatic valve, a valve seat, a lever adapted to move toward and away from said seat, means for moving said lever according to variations of temperature, a ball adapted to pass through said lever, rigid members on the lever, and means urging said rigid members into engagement with the ball so that they may cause the ball to snap from one side of the lever to the other upon movement of the lever.

2. In a thermostatic valve, an apertured member, means for moving said member in accordance with temperature variations, a

ball movable through the aperture in the member, plates slidable upon the member adjacent the aperture, spring means urging Ill said plates toward the ball, and a seat upon which said ball is adapted to seat, whereby upon movement of said member said ball may be snapped by said plates toward or away from said seat.

3. In a thermostatic valve, a horizontally bifurcated member having an aperture therethrough, means for moving said member in accordance with variations of temperature, notched plates slidable' in the slot on said member, springs connected to the remote edges of said plates urging them toward each other with thenotches registering with the aperture, a ball ca able of passing through the aperture and etween the plates by forcing the plates apart, a seat for the ball u on one side of the member, and means provi ing a stop for the ballon the other side of the member, whereby when said member is moved slightly, said ball is snapped from the position engaging the seat into engagement with the stop, or vice versa.

4. In a thermostatic valve, a horizontally bifurcated member having an aperture therethrough, means for moving said member in accordance with variations of temperature, notched plates slidable in the slot on said member, springs connected to the remote edges of said plates urging them toward each other with the notches registering with the aperture, a ball capable of passing through the aperture and between theplates by forcing the plates apart, a seat for the ball upon one side of the member, and means providing a stop for the ball on the other side of the member, whereby when said member is moved slightly, said ball is snapped from the position engaging the seat into engagement with the stop, or vice versa, said stop being adjustable as and for the purpose described.

5. A thermostatic valve comprising a casing,.a fuel inlet and outlet to and from the casing, a heat expansible member on the casing, a rod movable thereby extending into the casing, a lever fulcruined in the casing having a bifurcated apertured end disposed over the outlet, said lever being adapted to be actuated by said rod upon expansion or contraction of said heat expansible member, a ball capable of passing through the aperture in, said lever, notched plates slidable in the slot of the lever, spring means urging them into engagement with the ball, and an adjustable stop on the casing on the opposite side of the lever from the outlet, whereby when the heat expansible member is expanded or contracted, said lever will be actuated, enabling said notched plates to snap the ball into engagement with the outlet or stop.

6. A thermostatic valve comprising a casing, a fuel inlet and outlet to and from the casing, a heat ex ansible member on the easing, a rod mova le thereby extending into the casing, a lever fulcrumed in the casing having a bifurcated apertured end disposed over the outlet, said lever being adapted to be actuated by said rod upon expansion or contraction of said heat expansible member, a ball capable of passing through the aperture in said lever, notched plates slidable in the slot of the lever, spring means urging them into engagement with the ball, and an adjustable stop on the casing on the opposite side of the lever from the outlet, whereby when the heat expansible member is expanded or contracted, said lever will be actuated, enabling said notched plates to snap the ball into engagement with the outlet or stop, said plates having their notched portions sharpened to knife edges.

7. A thermostatic valvecomprising a cas-e ing, a fuel inlet andoutlet to and from the casing, a heat expansible member on the casing, a rod movable thereby extending into the casing, a lever fulcrumed in the casing having a bifurcated apertured end disposed. over the outlet, said lever being I plates to snap the ball into engagement with t the outlet or stop, said casing having a removable front wall enablin trial operation of the valve and the rep ace'ment of the front wall without throwing the valve out of adjustment.

8. In a thermostatic valve, a valve seat, a member adapted to move toward and away from said valve seat, means for moving said member in accordance with variations of temperature, a valve closure movable through said member and ada ted to seat upon the valve seat, rigid'mem ers engageable upon the sides of the valve closure, and means for yieldably holdin the rigid members in enga ement with t e valve closure, said valve 0 osure being larger near the points of engagement of the rigid members than elsewhere, whereby upon a slight movement of said member, the valve'closure may be snapped from seating position to unseating position or vice versa.

9, In a thermostatic valve, a valve seat, a member adapted to move toward and away from said valve seat, means for moving said member in accordance with variations of temperature, a valve closure ada ted to seat upon the valve seat, said valve 0 osure being larger in one horizontal plane than in others,

a rigid member movably mounted upon said member, and means for yieldably holding said rigid member in engagement with the valve closure adjacent the largest portion thereon, whereby when said member is lightly moved, the valve closure may be snapped by the rigid member from seating position to unseating position or vice versa.

10. In a thermostatic valve, a valve seat, a member adapted to move toward and away from said valve seat, means for moving said member in accordance with variations of temperature, a ball constituting a valve closure adapted to seat upon said seat, and two notched rigid members mounted upon said member and arranged upon opposite sides of the ball, at least one of said members being movable and being yieldably held in engagement with the side of the ball, whereby when said member is slightly moved, the ball may be snapped from seating position to unseating position or vice versa.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GEO. W. KITE, JR. 

